Aerial vessel.



G. DTTSTERLOH. AERIAL VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.11, 1910v I Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

GUSTAV Diismmon Ev 3w Pn-TQRNEY en's'rav pe's'raawa, or sraocmovam, Grammar.

AERIAL VESSEL.

Specification of Letters Patent. P tented, Mar. 19, 19125.

Application filed October 11,- 1910. Serial No. 586,467.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gue'rav Dii's'ranLoH, engineer, subject of the German Emperor, re iding at Sprockhiivel, \Vestphalia. Ger many, have invented a new and useful Aerial Vessel; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to aerial vessels of the dirigible type.

The improved vessel is of low, air-resistance, and can easily be taken to pieces, stowed in small compass for transport and quickly reassembled. The invention also allows of the construction of aerial vessels of greater size as desired from the same olementary parts. In case of damage to single units or sections of the aerostat body, the latter remains fit for use and the damaged elements can be easily and quickly exchanged for new ones, which if desired can be for- Warded at once in the inflated condition. This technical advantage is obtained essentially by constituting the vessel of a nun'iber of balloonsections resembling lite-buoys, in such a way that a continuous channel is formed in the direction of the length of the vessel.

The accompanying drawing represents by way of example a "form of construction of the improved vessel.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the vessel and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. l igs. 3 and t represent'front and sectional views respectively of a ring-shaped section or bal lonnet. Fig. 5 shows one of the reii'rtoreing rings, Fig. 5 a diagrammatic sectional view of one of said rings. engine room and car.

The acrostat or balloon body A is composed ot' a number of ring-shaped balloon parts or ballonnets l to 12, as seen in Fig. 2. The external peripheries of the ballonnets form the exterior casing or hull of the vessel, while their inner peripheries form a central longitudinal channel The channel C and the cylindrical outer casing of the pipe shaped aerostat are covered with a suitable smooth sheath or skin I), which reduces the air-resistance and renders the aerostat more stable.

The stability of the acrostat is obtained by means of a central bar E, extending Fig. 6 represents the through and projecting at both ends of the aerostat and being stayed thereto. The

stability is further increased by reinforcing rings F, F, F, F which are inserted between the single ballonnets and stayed to the bar E. Fig. 5 shows by way of example the construction of one of these truss-rings, which consists of a hub and two rings of wood or metal, which are stayed together and braced in the manner of a cycle wheel.

The ballonncts l to 12 are of the shape of a life-buoy and are each provided with an inflation valve G and a release valve H (Figs. 3 and i). The size of the ballonnet depends upon that of the airshi and the purpose for which it is employer the external diameter must be in proportion to the internal diameter in order that the airresistance may not be too great, while on the other hand both the passage channel and the load-capacity above all must not be too small.

"Fig. 6 shows the rigid engine-room which consists of a central tube B with the propeller or fan J and the casing K with the car L. The driving motor M is arranged upon the bottom of the casing K, while the navigator may take his seat in the car L. The passengers can be accommodated on both sides of the engine room as well as in the car L. The ringshaped balloon-sections allow the construction of rigid, semi-rigid or non-rigid aerostats or balloon bodies. The airship can be easily demounted and closed or folded up so that it. can be disposed in a small compass and conveniently transported by railway or wagon. Moreover, the individual annular ballonncts may also be arranged for forwarding in an inflated condi-.

tion if desired so that for example the necessary number of spare ballonnets can be kept in stock at the depot o again ballonnets requiring inflation can he dcspatched to a distant gas-works for filling. The airship can also be easily arranged for longer or shorter voyages and for heavier or lighter loads by employing a. greater or smaller number of these annular ballonnets according to the purpose and particular requirement. An injury to any one ballonnet is therefore not a serious matter because it is of no great importance considering the large number of them; on the other hand the damaged ballonnet can easily be replaced. The engine room may remain open at the top for the taking of astronomical observations and bearings, or gas bags can be provided above the engine room as shown in Fig. 2. To further increase the stability, each single ballonnet bar, a plurality of tinuous channel artists A l I the length of the vessel; a propeller; an

may be stayed in such a way that the ties or stays form in the center a small circular opening by means of which the ballonnet l fitted upon the central bar E. With the ole ject of accelerating the erection and taking down of the body, larger units for example of three ballonnets complete can be supplied, so that they can be provided with common external and internal sheaths or envelops D which after fitting the unit upon the central bar F have only to be buttoned or clipped to the corresponding sheaths of the preceding unit or secured to the truss-ring F which is inserted betw en every two units. For

larger vessels a number of tubular bodies lying beside and above one another may be formed from the ballonnets.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in What manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claini is 1. An aerial vessel consisting o1 a central bar, a plurality of separated ballonnets made of soft material and in lifebnoy shape and arranged upon said central bar so that a continuous channel exists in the direction of the length of the vessel; means for driving the vessel and means for carrying passengers by the vessel.

2. An aerial vessel consisting of a central bar, a plurality of separated ballonncts made of soft material and in life-buoy shape and arranged upon said central bar so that a con tinuous channel exists in the. direction of the length of the vessel; a smooth sheath coveringsaid ballonnets; means for driving the vessel; and means for carrying passengers by the vessel.

3. An aerial vessel. consisting of a central bar, a plurality of separated ballonnets made of soft'material and in arranged upon said central bar so that a continuous channel exists in the direction of the length of the vessel; truss-rings between said ballonnets braced in the manner of a cycle Wheel and fitted upon said central bar;

means for carrying passengers by the vessel; and means for driving the vessel.

4. An aerial vessel. consisting of a central separated ballonnets made of soft material and in lite-buoy shape and arranged upon said central bar so that a. con tinnous channel exist. in the direction of the length of the vessel; a smooth. sheath covering said ballonnets;

truss-rings between said ballonnets braced in the manner of a cycle wheel and fitted upon said central bar; means for driving the vessel; and means for carryingpassengers by the vessel.

5. An aerial vessel consisting of a central bar, a plurality of separated ballonnets made of soft material and in life-buoy shape and arranged upon'sa-id central bar so thata cor. in the direction of life-buoy shape and oa s-s r engine for driving said propeller; a rigid engine-room inserted between said bailounets; and means forcarrying passengers by the vessel.

6. An aerial vessel consisting of a central bar, a plurality of separated. ballonnets made of soft material and in liiebuoy shape and arranged upon said central bar so that a continuous channel exi in the d rection of the length of the vessel; a smooth sheath covering said ballonnels; a propeller; an engine for driving said propeller; a rlgld engine-room inserted between said ballonnets; and means for carrying passengers by the vessel.

7. An aerial vessel cnsisting of a central bar a plurality oi separated ballonnets made o f'soft material and in life-buoy shape and arranged upon said central. bar so that a continuous channel exists in the direction of the lengths ot'the vessel; truss-rings between said ballonnets braced in the manner of a cycle wheel and fitted upon said central ban; a propeller; a rigid engine-room inserted between said ballonnets; andmeans for carrying passengers by the vessel.

8. An aerial vessel consisting of a central bar, a plurality of separated ballonnets made of softmaterial and in life-buoy shape and arranged upon said central bar so that a continuous channel exists in the direction of the length of the vessel; a smooth sheath covering said ballonnets; truss-rings between said ballonnets braced in the manner of a cycle wheel and fitted upon said central bar; a propeller; an engine for driving said propeller; a rigid engine-room inserted between said ballonnets; and means for carrying passengers by the vessel. 7

9. An aerial vessel consisting of a central bar a plurality of separated ballonnets made of soft. material and in life-buoy shape and arranged upon said central bar so that acon linuous channel exists in the direction of the length of the vessel; a propeller; an engine for driving said propeller; a rigid engine-room inserted and a car supported by said engine-room.

, 10. An aerial vessel consisting of a central bar, a plurality of separated ballonnets made of soft material the length of the vessel; a smooth sheath covering said ballonncts; a. propeller; an engine for driving said propeller, a rigid engine-room inserted between said ballonnets; and a car supported by said engine-room 11. An aerial vessel consisting of a central bar, a plurality of separated. ballonnets made of soft material and in life-buoy shape and lupon said central. bar so that a cona channel exists in the direction of th or the vessel; truss-rings between r allonnets braced in the manner of a between said. ballonnets;

and in life-buoy shape and arranged upon said central bar so that a con tinuous channel exists in the direction of.

a propeller; an engine on said central bar; or driving said proeller; a rigid engine-room inserted between said ballonnets; and a car supported by said engine-room.

12. An aerial vessel consisting of a central bar, a plurality of separated ballonnets made of soft material and in life-buoy shape and arranged upon said central bar so that a continuous channel exists in the direction of cycle wheel and fitted u .the length of the vessel; a smooth sheath said ballonnets braced in the manner covering said ballonnets; truss-rings between of a cycle wheel and fitted u on said central bar; a propeller; an engine or driving said pro- 15 peller; a rigid engine-room inserted between said ballonnets; and a car supported by said engine-room.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 20 two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAV DUsTERLoH. [11.8.]

Witnesses:

CHAS. J. WRIGHT, WALTER VONNEGUT. 

